If you’re a parent and you’re looking for creative ways to make your kids eat healthy, a great way would be to create snack mixes for them.
Why make a snack mix? Easy, fun for kids, fun for grown-ups, great for gifts, parties and holidays. The question should be why not make them?
Toss together a few ingredients. Add a bit of this and a bit of that and presto! You have an instant snack sensation.
This page contains 18 snack mix for kids recipes. Some are peppered with a little more seasoning that kids may like and adults will love. There is great enough variety where you’re sure to find some you and your children both like.
1. Snack mix for kids recipe
Are you serving a group of kids that all like something different? Put out several ingredients from the below list.
Ingredients:
- Raisins
- Goldfish crackers, plain or cheese
- Chex cereal
- Life cereal
- Cheerios
- Square pretzels or pretzel sticks
- Nuts (only if no children in your group are allergic to nuts)
- Raisins or Yogurt covered raisins, sunflower seeds, etc.
- Your choice of M&M’s, chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, small chewy candies, etc.
Instructions
- Put the variety of ingredients out in bowls.
- After children wash their hands give them each a baggie. (To keep track of whose is whose have them write their name on it)
- Let the kids fill the bag with the snacks of their choosing.
Tip: Let children know how much ‘measurement-wise’ they can take of offered foods; also how many choices they can have. Example: Each child can take 1/2 cup of 4 food choices offered.
2. Animal food for humans
Ingredients:
- 2 cups animal-shaped graham crackers
- 1 cup salted peanuts
- 1/2 cup M&M’s
- 1/2 cup raisins
Instructions
- Mix together.
- Store in sandwich bags or covered containers.
3. Wormy snack mix
Ingredients:
- 1 cup miniature pretzels
- 1 cup miniature Teddy Grahams snacks
- 1 cup dry roasted peanuts (If no allergies)
- 1 cup m&m’s
- 1 cup gummy worms
Instructions
- Mix together and enjoy it.
Kids Trail Mix Recipes
A general guide to trail mix
- In a large bowl, add any type of cereals (Cheerios, Kix, Rice Krispies, etc.)
- Mix in pretzel sticks, fish crackers, small snack crackers, raisins, oyster crackers, M&M’s, etc. Almost anything that is left-over in the pantry.
- Mix well, and place in individual sandwich baggies or paper cups.
- This is a great “take-along field trip snack” or “take it outdoors snack”. It will also help you clean out those “little leftovers” in your food storage.
4. Froot Loops trail mix
Ingredients:
- 1 (15 ounces) box Fruit Loops cereal
- 1 (15 ounces) bag mini pretzel twists
- 1 (1 pound) bag M&M’s
- 1 box raisins
- 1 can salted peanuts
Mix all together and store in an airtight container.
5. Goobers trail mix
Ingredients:
- 2 cups ‘NESTLE GOOBERS’ Milk Chocolate-Covered Peanuts
- 2 cups small pretzel twists
- Miniature marshmallows
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 cup coarsely chopped dried apricots
- 1 cup coarsely chopped dried apples
Combine Goobers, pretzels, marshmallows, raisins, apricots, and apples in a large bowl.
Makes 10 servings.
Recipe Source: Nestle & Meals.com
6. Original chex party mix
Ingredients:
- 6 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 3 cups Corn Chex cereal
- 3 cups Rice Chex cereal
- 3 cups Wheat Chex cereal
- 1 cup mixed nuts
- 1 cup bite-size pretzels
- 1 cup garlic-flavor bite-size bagel chips or regular-size bagel chips, broken into 1-inch pieces
Instructions
- Heat oven to 250°F (120°C). In an ungreased large roasting pan, melt butter in oven. Stir in seasonings. Gradually stir in remaining ingredients until evenly coated.
- Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool, about 15 minutes. Store in an airtight container.
- Makes 24 (1/2 cup) servings.
- Microwave Directions: In a large microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High about 40 seconds or until melted. Stir in seasonings. Gradually stir in remaining ingredients until evenly coated. Microwave uncovered on High 5 to 6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool. Store in an airtight container.
Tip: The original recipe includes Corn Chex, Rice Chex, and Wheat Chex. You can mix and match to suit your taste just use a total of 9 cups of cereal.
Recipe courtesy of www.chex.com
7. Crockpot party mix
Ingredients:
- 7 cups assorted cereal (oat, rice, wheat in various shapes)
- 1 cup peanuts, pecans, cashews, or mixed nuts
- 1 cup mini pretzel sticks
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
- dash hot pepper sauce, or more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/2 teaspoon onion salt
- Combine cereals, nuts, and pretzels in the slow cooker.
- Mix melted butter with remaining ingredients and seasonings; pour over the cereal mixture, tossing to coat.
- Cook, uncovered on high for 2 hours, stirring about every 30 minutes.
- Turn to low and cook another 2 to 6 hours.
- Store in an airtight container.
Makes about 10 cups.
8. Nuts and Bolts
Ingredients:
- 2 cups bite-size wheat square cereal (such as Wheat Chex®)
- 2 cups bite-size corn square cereal (such as Corn Chex®)
- 2 cups bite-size rice square cereal (such as Rice Chex®)
- 2 cups toasted oat cereal rings (such as Cheerios®)
- 2 cups cheese-flavored crackers (such as Cheez-It®)
- 2 cups pretzels
- 2 cups mixed nuts
- 1 cup butter
- 2 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat an oven to 225 degrees F (110 degrees C).
- Combine the wheat cereal, corn cereal, rice cereal, oat cereal, cheese-flavored crackers, pretzels, and mixed nuts in a large bowl; set aside.
- Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce until evenly blended.
- Pour over the cereal mixture, and gently stir until the cereal is evenly coated with the seasoned butter.
- Spread the cereal mixture onto baking sheets.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
- Allow cooling to room temperature before storing in an airtight container.
9. Party nibbles
Ingredients:
- 1 (6 ounces) package seasoned croutons
- 1 (6 ounces) package fish-shaped crackers
- 1 (6 1/2 ounce) package pretzel twists
- 1 (12 ounces) can mixed nuts
- 3/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
- 1 teaspoon hickory flavored salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Combine the first 4 ingredients in a large roasting pan; stir well.
- Combine last 3 ingredients; stir well. Drizzle over nut mixture; stir well.
- Bake at 250 degrees F for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
- Yields about 3 quarts.
10. Nutty snack mix
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup Creamy Peanut Butter or Creamy Peanut Butter & Honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 4 cups honey and nut breakfast cereal
- 1 cup mixed nuts
- 1 cup mini pretzels
- Optional: Cayenne pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line rimmed baking sheet with foil.
- Combine butter, peanut butter, vanilla and cinnamon in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH 35 to 45 seconds, stirring until well blended.
- Combine cereal, mixed nuts, and pretzels in a large bowl. Pour butter mixture over cereal mixture. Toss well to coat. Spread mixture evenly on a foiled baking sheet.
- Bake 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool. Sprinkle lightly with cayenne pepper, if desired. Toss. Store in a resealable food storage bag.
11. Chocolate and fruit snack mix
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup butter or margarine
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon Hershey’s Dark Cocoa or Hershey’s Cocoa
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 cups bite-size crisp rice squares cereal
- 3 cups bite-size crisp wheat squares cereal
- 2 cups toasted oat cereal rings
- 1 cup cashews
- 1 1/2 cups (6-ounce package) dried fruit bits
- 1 cup Hershey’s Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
Instructions
- Place butter in a 4-quart microwave-safe bowl.
- Microwave at high (100%) 1 minute or until melted; stir in sugar, cocoa, and cinnamon. Add cereals and cashews; stir until evenly coated.
- Microwave at high 3 minutes, stirring each minute; stir in dried fruit.
- Microwave at high 3 minutes, stirring each minute.
- Cool completely; stir in chocolate chips. Store in a tightly covered container in a cool, dry place.
Makes about 11 cups mix
Recipe courtesy of the Hershey Kitchens
12. White chocolate snack mix
Ingredients:
- 1 (10 ounces) package mini twist pretzels
- 5 cups Cheerios®
- 5 cups Chex or Golden Grahams
- 2 cups salted peanuts
- 1 (14 ounces) package candy-coated milk chocolate pieces
- 2 (11 ounce) packages white chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Instructions
- Line 3 baking sheets with waxed paper or parchment. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine mini pretzels, toasted oat cereal, crispy corn cereal squares, salted peanuts, and candy-coated chocolate pieces. Set aside.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, heat chips and oil on medium-high for 2 minutes, stirring once. Microwave on high for 10 seconds; stir until smooth. Pour over cereal mixture and mix well.
- Spread onto prepared baking sheets. Cool; break apart. Store in an airtight container
13. Candy bar snack
Ingredients:
- 4 cups toasted oat cereal
- 1 (6 1/2 ounce) can salted peanuts
- 1 cup golden raisins
- 1/4 cup butter or margarine
- 1 (6 ounces) package semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Mix cereal, peanuts, and raisins in a bowl.
- Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat or microwave.
- Pour melted butter over cereal mixture and toss lightly until coated thoroughly.
- Sprinkle chocolate chips over the mixture and toss again.
14. Caramel and peanut party snack mix
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup white corn syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 8 cups rice or corn Chex, or Crispix cereal
- 2 cups peanuts
Instructions
- Combine margarine, brown sugar, corn syrup and salt in a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on High for 2 to 3 minutes or until mixture comes to a boil.
- Microwave for several minutes longer, stirring several times, so the mixture will have boiled for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Stir in the baking soda.
- Add the cereal and peanuts; mix well. Spread on a greased baking sheet to cool, stirring several times.
15. Muddy buddies
Ingredients:
- 9 cups Corn Chex, Rice Chex, Wheat Chex, or Chocolate Chex, cereal (or a combination)
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup butter or margarine
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Into large bowl, measure cereal; set aside.
- In a 1-quart microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter uncovered on High 1 minute; stir. Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth.
- Stir in vanilla.
- Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag or large paper bag.
- Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
16. Puppy chow
Ingredients:
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) margarine
- 12 ounces of chocolate chips
- 1 large box Crispix
- 2 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
Instructions
- Melt peanut butter, margarine, and chocolate chips.
- Pour mixture over large box Crispix; coat well.
- In a paper bag or very, very large bowl) put 2 1/2 cups confectioner sugar.
- Add coated cereal. Shake/fold well and pour onto wax paper. You will find that the cereal absorbs the mixture and even tastes better the next day!
17. Granola snack mix recipe
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup honey
- 4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1/4 cup wheat germ
- 1/3 cup sliced almonds
- 3/4 cup seedless raisins
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C). Line a 15 1/2 X 10 1/2 X 1-inch jelly roll pan with foil. Set aside.
- Blend oil and honey in a large bowl. Add oats, wheat germ, and almonds and mix well to coat.
- Spread mixture evenly in pan and bake uncovered, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 25 minutes.
- Remove from oven, stir in raisins, and cool to room temperature. 5. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Makes 4 1/2 cups
Note: Add or substitute almost anything in the dried fruit, nut, and/or seed departments such as coarsely chopped dried apples, apricots, or pears, toasted pumpkin or sunflower seeds, toasted chopped pecans or cashews.
18. Ocean themed snack mix
(From Ocean Theme)
When serving a group of kids that all like something different. Put out several ingredients. For our Ocean Snack mix choose from the ingredients below.
Ingredients:
- Goldfish crackers, plain or cheese (Fish)
- Cheerios and/or Froot Loops (Life Savers/Life Rings)
- Pretzel sticks (Pieces of driftwood)
- Raisins, Yogurt covered raisins and/or chocolate chips (Small stones and pebbles)
- M&M’s (Colorful beach glass and stones)
- Mini marshmallows (Foam of the waves)
- Chow Mein noodles (Sea Weed)
Instructions
- Either pre-make mix or put the variety of ingredients out in bowls. For some added fun make small signs with the name of the “Ocean Themed” ingredient and place in from of each food choice.
- Draw or cut out pictures for children who can’t read!
- After children wash their hands give them each a baggie. (To keep track of whose is whose have them write their name on it).
- Have the kids fill their bags with the snacks of their choice.
In Summary
We hope you have enjoyed these snack mix recipes for kids. Did you find one to make? Let us know if you absolutely loved it. The great thing about making a snack mix is that you can iterate when it comes to the recipes. Feel free to swap ingredients in and out as you please.
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